The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognised symbol that allows people to voluntarily share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent, and that they may benefit from a little extra time, patience or support.
Non-visible conditions can include autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety and sensory sensitivities, among many others.
Globally, one in six people live with a disability, and a large proportion of these conditions are non-visible, making initiatives like the Sunflower more important than ever in community settings such as netball.
The partnership was soft launched at the recently completed Junior State Age event on the Gold Coast, where two forms of the symbol were introduced.
Green lanyards were made available to participants and spectators with a non-visible disability, while white lanyards identified people trained to offer assistance and support.
Building on this successful soft launch, Netball Queensland will now roll the Sunflower initiative out more broadly across its competitions, programs and venues, giving players, coaches, officials, volunteers, staff and spectators a simple, respectful way to communicate their needs.
As a Sunflower member, Netball Queensland is providing staff and volunteers with dedicated training and awareness resources, as well as encouraging clubs and associations throughout the state to embrace the initiative within their own communities.
Netball Queensland General Manager – Netball, Teale Blessington, said the initiative reflected the sport's ongoing commitment to inclusion.
“Joining the Sunflower initiative shows our commitment to recognising and respecting the challenges people may be facing that we can't always see,” Blessington said.
“We're proud to be part of this global movement to create a more inclusive world.”
To learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and how it works, visit hdsunflower.com.
